NOVEL NEXT Chapter 79
Friday, 10 a.m.
“Ah-reum, over here!”
“Oh, hello!”
The training observation for the Dawn Guild’s new recruits starts at 1 p.m.
Since I was going out anyway, I decided to leave a bit early and check out one of Seoul’s large bookstores.
Yesterday, I asked Ah-reum for some recommendations, and she agreed to come along today.
What a delightful student!
“The transportation here is quite good. Should we grab lunch around here too?”
“Yeaah! Sounds great!”
I entered the bookstore with the lively Ah-reum.
The warm ambiance and soft lighting added to the bookstore’s typical cozy feel.
Even though we haven’t done anything yet, I already feel recharged.
“Big bookstores really are different…”
“Is this your first time here?”
“Yeah, I haven’t settled in Seoul for long. I should check out some other places next time too.”
“I’ll guide you then!”
We chatted softly as we cautiously looked around.
From newly released books to recommended reads, many options greeted us.
I mostly just glanced at the covers as I walked past.
Eventually, I stopped in a corner filled with various novels.
“Oh, this one too.”
“What’s that?”
I picked up a book I recognized, feeling happy to see it.
But when I showed it to Ah-reum, her expression suddenly changed to a strange one.
“…Why?”
“Uh, uh… Professor, have you heard about the author?”
“Hmm? No… What happened?”
“A few days ago, a gate appeared right in front of their house… The serialization of the novel is delayed.”
“…Really?”
“Yeaah…”
I had been consistently enjoying the web version of this novel! Because of a gate, there’s a serialization delay?…
…De, delay is fine, but please don’t tell me it’s going to be dropped or something!
“Wait a minute.”
I hurriedly pulled out my phone to search for the author’s name and the news.
…
“Ah-reum.”
“Yes?”
“This is a local low-rank dungeon. If it’s not cleared by next week, let’s go together.”
“Okay, yes!”
There’s no way it won’t be cleared by then.
I trust the local hunters.
For high-level dungeons, people like Ji-a help out, but this is just a low-rank one!
“Shall we look around a bit more and then grab a meal?”
“Absolutely!”
I took a light stroll around the bookstore, checking out the books.
After leaving the bookstore, while pondering what to eat for lunch, Ah-reum recommended a nearby spicy chicken place.
I thought it was a good suggestion, so we headed to the restaurant.
The suggestion was solid.
“…Since we have to go into a dungeon, should we eat something not too spicy to lighten the load on our stomachs?”
“Hmm, yes!”
The menu looked scary.
I didn’t want to show a struggle in front of Ah-reum…
…Luckily, we finished our meal without incident and moved on to the subway station.
Sitting beside Ah-reum, we headed to our destination.
I checked the remaining stations and time, reassuring myself that we wouldn’t be late.
Casually, I asked Ah-reum, “By the way, how did you get to participate in the Dawn Guild’s new recruit training observation? Is there a special application?”
“Well, um… Eun-byeol said she wanted to go with me?”
“Did Eun-byeol apply?”
“U, Eun-byeol’s brother is an S-rank hunter from the Dawn Guild! Ye Do-hyeong! So, maybe that’s why?”
“…What?”
Who is Eun-byeol’s brother?
“S-rank magic-based hunter Ye Do-hyeong!”
“Whoa…”
That’s a surprise twist.
I never imagined that guy had a younger sister who’s taking my lectures!
The world really is small.
“Is Eun-byeol close with her brother?”
“Uh, um, I don’t really know. I, I think they’re just regular siblings?”
“Hm.”
That’s vague. I wondered if I should teach Eun-byeol the ‘Agony of the Scorching Tongue’…
…Ah, thinking again, the rank gap is too large, so it was probably unrealistic.
An S-rank in magic would probably have significant resistance too.
I’ll put the plan to turn Eun-byeol into a spicy assassin on hold for now.
Now it’s time to talk about Ah-reum’s training.
“Ah-reum, the curriculum shifts to practical training after midterms, right?”
“Yup, yes! That’s right.”
“Then should we formally start some advanced learning soon?”
“Eh? Advanced learning?”
Ah-reum’s eyes widened in surprise.
“During the start of the semester, you learned how to cast spells without the status window, right?”
“Yup, that’s right.”
Just as I was about to give her a more detailed explanation…
“Grandpa, why do you keep staring at us?”
“Huh?”
“Please don’t distract us while we’re talking.”
Suddenly, a young man with a bowl cut started arguing with an old man.
The eyes of the people sitting around them turned towards their direction.
“No, the student did something wrong, didn’t they?”
“What? Oh, this is annoying.”
The old man spoke calmly, but the young man’s voice was filled with complaints.
His ticking grammar drew annoyed looks from those nearby.
That distinctive manner of speaking was really rubbing people the wrong way.
Looking at the expressions of those around, I saw they were just as fed up as I was.
I turned back to Ah-reum and whispered, “Ah-reum, this is an example of what I’m talking about.”
“…?”
I pointed at the noisy villain.
The unpleasant atmosphere surrounding us thickened.
The moment Ah-reum’s gaze landed on the villain—
Snap!
She flicked her finger, which had been pointing at the young man.
At that instant…
“…!”
“Hmm?”
The young man, who had been glaring at the old man, fell silent.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out, and silence reigned.
He clutched his throat, showing signs of distress, but it was all in vain.
I had silenced him with magic.
Once peace was restored on the subway, I spoke to Ah-reum.
“I’ll help you be able to do this someday.”
“Did, did you do that, Professor?”
“Yup.”
“Wow…”
Ah-reum gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
What a pure expression!
I unconsciously ruffled Ah-reum’s hair.
“Hehe…”
After a quick moment of admiring the cute smile of Ah-reum, I glanced up at the subway ceiling.
When I checked the remaining stations, I noticed a few people sitting across from me glancing my way with narrowed eyes.
Even though I thought we were whispering quietly, it seemed they overheard us nearby.
I awkwardly smiled and bowed my head in greeting.
* * *
Near the C-rank gate where the Dawn Guild’s new recruit training was scheduled.
An aide from the management department approached a B-rank hunter, who serves as the instructor and protector of the recruits.
“Kim Hunter, we have something important to discuss regarding this training.”
“Eh? Important, you say?”
“Today, three academy students and one part-time instructor will be participating in the training observation. The department head personally requested it.”
“An observation, you say?”
As Kim Hunter’s expression turned serious, the aide rubbed her palms together apologetically.
“Well, you see… they are considered promising candidates for this year. Moreover, the part-time instructor joining is quite a remarkable talent too.”
“Hm… The way you’re speaking suggests that the instructor was already turned down by scouts, huh?”
“Yup, that’s right. It was tough to arrange things using students like this. So I hope you can create a favorable atmosphere for joining the guild and showcase your skills while promoting a good image of the guild.”
At the aide’s earnest request, Kim Hunter let out a heavy sigh.
Crossing his arms, he spoke with a stern expression.
“I’ll try, but this is a C-rank dungeon. Anything can happen at any time. Depending on the situation, I may withdraw the observers at my discretion. Agreed?”
“Oh my, of course! Thank you, Kim Hunter! Haha.”
As the aide laughed and stepped back, Kim Hunter approached the other hunters.
He summarized the situation briefly, sharing the details.
Most hunters didn’t really pay mind to it.
The protector, a B-rank hunter was a well-known figure, and they were sufficiently staffed among themselves as recruits.
It didn’t seem like having a few observers would cause any problems.
However, the most important participant of this training, C-rank supporter Yang Chae-wook, frowned.
‘The guild should focus on me, and now they’re worrying about someone who hasn’t even joined?’
He muttered softly, “Is it right to treat it casually as if we’re just going for a stroll?”
“…Just like you signed up for the Dawn Guild in the morning, new recruits need to come in steadily. I hope you understand.”
“Hmph…”
Kim Hunter wasn’t wrong at all.
Yang Chae-wook was full of frustration but didn’t show it any further.
Soon after, Eun-byeol and Jae-woo, then Ah-reum and Si-hyun, in order, joined them.
As the observers gathered, the aide stepped forward to explain various things.
Si-hyun listened closely to the explanation while observing the participants.
‘One B-rank and five C-ranks…’
The raid was certainly possible with just the C-ranks.
It would be interesting to see how the B-rank hunter handles the newcomers.
Si-hyun felt curious as he glanced around.
Just then, his gaze met with a man glaring at him with a displeased expression.
As if it were a well-timed moment, the frowning man approached.
“Aide, isn’t that explanation enough since it’s just an observation? Let’s get moving already.”
“Yes, understood, Yang Chae-wook. We’ll wrap this up quickly.”
“Seriously.”
The man clicked his tongue and turned away.
Considering how rude he was for a newcomer, Si-hyun silently looked at the aide.
The aide gave a wry smile as he spoke.
“That individual is a C-rank supporter hunter.”
It was a brief explanation.
Soon, the aide’s presentation of the Dawn Guild’s appeal concluded rapidly.
With everything prepared, the hunters of Dawn began entering the gate.
“Shall we go too?”
“Yes!”
Si-hyun heard the students’ energetic responses and stepped into the dungeon as well.
The familiar sight of a cave-like dungeon unfolded before him.
The mixed smell of dirt and humidity tickled his nose.
Also…
“Ugh, there’s a kind of sour smell.”
“It’s musty yet pungent.”
The stench combined with the tickling odor of chemicals stirred in his nostrils.
Si-hyun quickly guessed what kind of dungeon this was.
“Looks like bugs are coming out.”
Hearing his softly murmured words, the students all grimaced.